Social Distancing Effect On Society

Social Distancing Effect On Society

By Astondy Lahamazta / D95218061

              In response to the coronavirus pandemic, public health officials are asking us to do something that doesn’t come naturally to our very social life: Stay away from each other. Such social distancing- Avoiding large gatherings and close contact with others- is crucial for slowing the speed of the virus spreading and preventing our health care system from getting overwhelmed. But it wont be easy. The corona virus spreading around the world is calling on us to suppress our profoundly human for connection such as seeing our friends, getting together in groups, or touching each other. The effect of short term social distancing haven’t been well studied, but several researchers, most of them scrambling to deal with disruptions to their own lives because of the coronavirus

            Over long periods of time, social isolation can increase the risk of a variety of health problems including heart disease, depression, dementia, and even death. That may be because social contact can buffer the negative effects of stress. Studies by Holt-Lunstad and others have found that having a friend present can reduce a person’s cardiovascular response to a stressful task. There’s even a correlation between perceived social connectedness and stress responses. Just knowing that you have someone can count on if needed is enough to dampen some of those responses even if that person is not physically present. What effects, if any, might be caused by social distancing in response to the coronavirus is an open question. The concern now, that this will not only exacerbate things for those who are already isolated and lonely, but also might be a triggering point for others to now get into habits of connecting less.